Am. Heritage agrees with you. A couple of others suggest a combo of smack and smash. I find it more interesting the range of meanings to which it applies. Besides the obvious breakage and sports, it can refer to financial ruin and drunkenness.

BTW, we like newcomers to the board, so hang around, comment, and post like you just did.

Most Biblical Hebrew scholars argue over whether Hebrew words come from two or three letter verbs. Now they are not here discussing the origins of language per se, only this one. However, Hebrew, like all current known languages has developed over hundreds of years to the state where you are studying. It's logical that the first dude to speak pointed to a tree and said "ugh." Or maybe pantomimed an action and said "gam." i suppose it's also possible he shoved a guy away from a gal he fancied and said "Mine!" Could the first word have been a possessive? And what about the tendencies for babies to make sounds like "da" and "ma"? Maybe a child led us?

Welcome, Pedroski. While we are talking about word origins, where did your very interesting name come from? It looks like a combination of Peter in Spanish with a Polish -ski on it. Since I grew up among Hispanics and Poles, I am intrigued by the name. To all Alpha Agoras, putting a place of residence like "Texas" or "Southampton, UK" in your profile helps others to better understand and appreciate your commentary. "I'm from Texas, pardners. Where y'all from?"